Zoom B1 four: auto wah

[Flares]

Got a Zoom B1 four to try with my 3/4 scale budget bass which I've been mucking about on (guitar is my first instrument).
At first I thought the auto wah and Envelope effect weren't working (couldn't get the quack sound).
Had to turn the volume up full and the treble way up on the bass to get it to trigger, and then turn the effects volume way down on the Zoom B1 so I wasn't deafened.
Found this was the same for some of the other effects, along with having to add the compressor effect to the chain to get optimal results, as I expected.
Is it just a combination of the pedal needing a hot signal coming in to trigger and my budget bass?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Got a Zoom B1 four to try with my 3/4 scale budget bass which I've been mucking about on (guitar is my first instrument).
At first I thought the auto wah and Envelope effect weren't working (couldn't get the quack sound).
Had to turn the volume up full and the treble way up on the bass to get it to trigger, and then turn the effects volume way down on the Zoom B1 so I wasn't deafened.
Found this was the same for some of the other effects, along with having to add the compressor effect to the chain to get optimal results, as I expected.
Is it just a combination of the pedal needing a hot signal coming in to trigger and my budget bass?

Things like Auto Wah or Envelope filters need the full signal from the bass as the signal from the bass and how hard or soft you pluck the strings affect how the effect triggers.

There is a sensitivity or sense control on those effects to tailor how responsive the wah or envelope responses. If it isn't, turn it up. If it's too much turn it down. But make sure your volume is up on your bass.

 

[Flares]

Things like Auto Wah or Envelope filters need the full signal from the bass as the signal from the bass and how hard or soft you pluck the strings affect how the effect triggers.

There is a sensitivity or sense control on those effects to tailor how responsive the wah or envelope responses. If it isn't, turn it up. If it's too much turn it down. But make sure your volume is up on your bass.

Thanks.
I did had the sensitivity setting at full.
I accessed the pedal's tuner mode and it wasn't getting a signal until I had the volume knob on the bass practically up at full, so it looks like the budget bass needs to be up at full tilt with this pedal.

 

[Alex4ndre]

Hello.
I did encounter the same problem with a very uneven triggering of the effect depending on the attack and the notes played, so i downloaded Tonelib-Zoom and made a patch (directly on the PC screen) with a compressor and the "autowah" module, and nothing else.
(If you go in the factory patch you'll see that this "autowah" module isn't used at all btw)

I can't be more precise for the moment as my kids have managed to ruin the USB port on the B1 four so i have to fix it and i'm telling you what i remember.

Here is a link to the free software : ToneLib Zoom | Interface for easy control of Zoom processors

Hope that helps !

 

[DJ Bebop]

Thanks.
I did had the sensitivity setting at full.
I accessed the pedal's tuner mode and it wasn't getting a signal until I had the volume knob on the bass practically up at full, so it looks like the budget bass needs to be up at full tilt with this pedal.

Most all basses need to have their volumes up to make them work.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Hello.
I did encounter the same problem with a very uneven triggering of the effect depending on the attack and the notes played, so i downloaded Tonelib-Zoom and made a patch (directly on the PC screen) with a compressor and the "autowah" module, and nothing else.
(If you go in the factory patch you'll see that this "autowah" module isn't used at all btw)

I can't be more precise for the moment as my kids have managed to ruin the USB port on the B1 four so i have to fix it and i'm telling you what i remember.

Here is a link to the free software : ToneLib Zoom | Interface for easy control of Zoom processors

Hope that helps !

Also the Guitar Lab from Zoom Does this as well.
Guitar Lab

 

[Alex4ndre]

Yes, Guitar Lab would be the first spontaneous choice maybe as it's from Zoom themselves, but strangely it never managed to find my device. Maybe a problem related to my computer.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Yes, Guitar Lab would be the first spontaneous choice maybe as it's from Zoom themselves, but strangely it never managed to find my device. Maybe a problem related to my computer.

Or cable, also make sure that you update the Guitar Lab software. It needs to be updated as new products that use it come out.

 

[Flares]

Hello.
I did encounter the same problem with a very uneven triggering of the effect depending on the attack and the notes played, so i downloaded Tonelib-Zoom and made a patch (directly on the PC screen) with a compressor and the "autowah" module, and nothing else.
(If you go in the factory patch you'll see that this "autowah" module isn't used at all btw)

I can't be more precise for the moment as my kids have managed to ruin the USB port on the B1 four so i have to fix it and i'm telling you what i remember.

Here is a link to the free software : ToneLib Zoom | Interface for easy control of Zoom processors

Hope that helps !

I ended up downloading the Envelope filter (modelled on the MXR pedal) from GuitarLab and that seemed more responsive and tweakable.
At first my Zoom wasn't recognised by GuitarLab either, but I found if you pressed the settings button on the pedal when it's hooked up it triggers a comms "handshake" and seems to finds it.

 

[bdplaid]

I accessed the pedal's tuner mode and it wasn't getting a signal until I had the volume knob on the bass practically up at full, so it looks like the budget bass needs to be up at full tilt with this pedal.

This is a guitar player problem. Guitarists run guitar volumes low, so you can tweak the tone and overdrive. We bassists run them at full volume most of the time. Do that, and your bass effects will work much better. And don't put a comp in front of the envelope follower; put it behind it.